Scaffold trestle



May 28, 1957 A. c. WOODS SCAFFOLD TRESTLE 2 Shecs-Sheet l Filed July 12, 1954 Albert 6. Woods INVENTOR.

Fig.

May 28, 1957 A. c. WOODS 2,793,916

SCAFFOLD TRESTLE I Filed July l2, l954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

IN! 'ENTQR.

20 BY (M 8M5 United States Patent Oflice iatented May 28, 1957 SCAFFOLD TRESTLE Albert C. Woods, Akron, Ohio Application July 12, 1954, Serial No. 442,669

1 Claim. (Q1. 304-) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in trestles for use with scaffolding, and more particularly to an easily foldable and portable trestle.

An important object of the invention is to provide a trestle of this character constructed of a pair of side units, each including a pair of legs pivotally connected at their upper ends to the legs of the opposite side unit for folding the side units inwardly in confronting relation with respect to each other, and further, to provide a transversely extending locking bar at the lower portion of the side units to lock the latter in open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide connectors at the upper ends of the legs of the side units and at each end of the trestle and to which the legs are pivoted and extending the legs upwardly above the connectors and between which a top rail or cross-bar of the trestle is supported in a position for resting on the connectors.

A further object is to provide a foldable trestle of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the transverse locking bar for the sides of the trestle;

Figure 4 is a top plan view;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the trestle in folded position; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 5 and 6 desigmate a pair of side units, each unit including a pair of tubular metal legs 7 and 8 which are rigidly connected to each other by upper and lower horizontal bars 9 and 10. Braces 11 also extend from an intermediate portion of each leg to the upper horizontal bar 9.

' The upper end portion of each leg is inclined at an angle to the lower portion thereof so that when the lower portion of the legs of the respective side units 5 and 6 are positioned in diverging relation with respect to each other, the upper portions of the legs are positioned perpendicularly, as indicated at 12.

The upper portion 12 of the legs of the side units 5 and 6 are connected to each other in spaced apart relation by means of a pair of connector plates 13 between which the upper ends of adjacent legs are positioned and pivoted, by means of bolts and nuts or the like 14 for swinging the side units 5 and 6 inwardly and outwardly with respect to each other.

The upper end portions 12 of the legs extend upwardly above the connectors 13 to provide upstanding supports between which a cross-bar or rail 15 is removably positioned for resting on the connectors 13.

A locking bar 16 is pivoted at one end portion to a U-shaped bracket 17 which is permanently secured to the lower longitudinal rod 10 of one of the side units of the trestle by means of a bolt and nut or the like 18 while the other end portion of the locking bar 16 is secured between upper and lower clamping plates 19 and 20 by means of a bolt and nut or the like 21 for detachably connecting the locking bar to the lower longitudinal rod 10 of the opposite side unit 5 of the trestle.

By releasing the clamping plates 19 and 20, the latter may slide longitudinally along the rod 10 toward one end of the trestle, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, whereupon the side units 5 and 6 may be folded inwardly toward each other and the clamping plates 19 and 20 may then again be tightened to secure the trestle in its folded position.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A trestle comprising a pair of supporting frames, such frame comprising end legs connected by longitudinal members, a connecting plate at each end of the trestle, each connecting plate being pivotally attached at its ends to the opposing end legs of the frames, and spacing these legs from each other, the upper end portions of said legs extending above said connecting plates for retaining a supporting beam removably seated on said connecting plates, a locking bar pivotally attached at one end to a longitudinal member of one frame and having a clamp on the other end thereof for adjustably attaching the bar to the opposing longitudinal member on the opposite frame in selected locked positions relative to the frames.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 219,536 Smith Sept. 9, 1879 314,986 Aenis Apr. 7, 1885 898,374 Jessen Sept. 8, 1908 1,227,301 Ogden May 22, 1917 1,450,869 Reinelt Apr. 3, 1923 1,662,700 Dyer Mar. 13, 1928 

